Means for and method of separating sheet material



Dec. 22, 1936. REIN'ARTZ 2,064,851

MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF SEPARATING SHEET MATERIAL -Filed Nov. 15, 1934Patented Dec. 22,1936

MEANS FOR AND DIETHOD OF SEPARATING SHEET MATERIAL Robert Relnartz,OiIenbach-on-the-Main, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignmentsgto ArthurWormser, Oflenbach-on-the-Main, Germany Application November 15, 1934,Serial No. 753,212 In Germany December 6, 1933 23 Claims. (01. 271-28)This invention relates to sheet separating devices for sheet feedingmachines and has for its object to provide a device by which-the sheetseparating effect of suction nozzles is improved.

, In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a suction device embodyingmy invention;

Figs. 2 to 6 are diagrammatic sections of the device shown in: Fig, 1with certain parts omitted for the sake of clarity, indicatingsuccessive positions of the device during its operation;

Figs. '7 to 10 are similar sections of different modifications of myinvention.

In the bearings I, 2 of a fork 3 a cylindrical suction nozzle 4 issupported to the interior 5 of which a, suction effect is applied by aflexible tube 6. The vertical and horizontal motions of the fork 3 andthe rocking of the suction nozzle 4 around its axle I are dependent onthe manner'of application of the suction device in thefeeding machine,and need not be described in detail herein.

On the axle i of the suction nozzle 4 is loosely mounted a speciallyshaped arm 8 which by means of a connecting rod .9 is given a rockingmotion around the axis of the suction nozzle. A small rod I is fixed tothe arm 8 so that said rod continuously moves concentrically to the axisof the suction nozzle 4 close to its cylindrical surface.

The operation lows:

In Fig. 2 the suction nozzle is near the stack l I of sheets 13 so'thatthe opening l2 or a series of openings disposed on the surface of thesuction nozzle 4 parallel to its axis touches the stack or is near thepoint of contact'The connecting rcd 9 has brought the arm 3 in such aposition that the separating rod 10- is on the right of the openings l2and does not touch the surface of the stack or touches it only slightly.

Now suction is applied and the nozzle 4 is slightly raised as shown inFig. 3, so that the separating rod I!) which now begins moving to theleft from the position shown may enter between of this simple device isas folthe suction nozzle 4. This motion is shown in Figs. 4 to 6 whichare selfexplanatory. The reason for the improved separating effect ofthis motion of the separating rod may be explained by. the fact that thedeflection of the sheet runs over its surface like a wave and by thefact that temporarily the sheet is slightly lifted from the suctionopening and the suction effect is much diminished (Fig, 4.)

While the rod I0 is passing between the suction nozzle and the pile, thevertical motion of the suction nozzle may be interrupted as shown inFigure 4. The nozzle 4 is suitably supported by a pair of levers lfulcrumed' at [6 and engaging the axle 'I. The other end of the leversis provided with a roller I! held in contact with the cam l8 by theresilient means 20. The cam is rotated to cause vertical movement of thenozzle but the contour of the cam is such as to provide for aninterruption in the vertical movement at a predetermined point in themovement of the separating rod in. The effect of this interruption isthat excess sheets gripped by the suction nozzle, must fall back a smalldistance only; but if time enough is available the suction nozzle mayraise without any interruption.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the separating rod I-" hasnot a circular section,

but a section ,similar to a mushroom or to a,

' crescent. Experience has shown that very thin the suction nozzle 4 andthe top sheet l3. The

nearer the separating rod Ill comes to the openings l2 the more thesheets l3, sucked on by the nozzle, are deflected. The effect of thisdeflection is that one or more excess sheets sucked on fall down.Generally the motion of the separating papers are sucked into the sharpangle between the suction nozzle and the separating rod and may bemutilated. This is prevented if the knifelike part of the profile ofFigs. 7 and 8 fits closely to the surface of the nozzle. But as in thiscase the large surface of contact between the separating rod and thesuction nozzle would completely close a single series of openings l2 andtherefore as it is to be feared that the correctly sucked on sheet wouldfall down when the machinemoves slowly, a second series of openings I4is provided at such a distance from the principal serlestof openings [2that at least one series ofi openings is always open. The second seriesof openings may consist of smaller holes than the principal openingssuch as is shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

In Fig. 7, l5 designates a finger which presses down the surface ofsheet I3 while the rod. l0 passes between the suction nozzle and thesheet( In spite of the fact that the separating'rod' l0, causes thesheet l3' to participate in its motion far less than might beanticipated so that in general it is unnecessary to hold the sheet l3,in some cases it is desirable to prevent any'shifting of the sheet l3relatively to the nozzles I2.

The separating effect may be further assisted by a rocking ofthe'suction nozzle 4 around the axle 'I. In this case the total strokeof the separating rod I0. may be so long that it has completely passedby the openings after the suction nozzle has been rocked as shown inFig. 9.

Instead of being cylindrical, the suction nozzle may be provided with afiat suction plane as shown in Fig. 10. In this case the separating rodl0 moves to and fro in a horizontal path. ,The suction nozzle 4 providedwitha separating rod l0 like any other one may be disposed in the middleof a sheet edge or near the corner.

'In the first case it is desirable to move the separating rod frominside against the edge and in the second case against the corner.

I claim- I. A separating device for sheet feeding machines comprising asuction nozzle mounted adjacent a stack of sheets for sucking the sheetsfrom the stack, and a member movable parallel to the face of said nozzleand between the nozzle of the stack to deflect the sheets from thenozzle whereby excess sheets sucked from the stack are released by thenozzle.

3. A separating device for sheet feeding machines comprising a suctiondevice having" a suction aperture therein and movable in close proximityto a stack of sheets to be separated, and

anrod movable above said stack parallel to the face of said suctiondevice, between the suction aged sheet and said aperture for deflectingsheets from the suction device.

4.. A separating device for sheet feeding machines comprising a nozzlemember having a series of apertures therein for sucking sheets from astack arranged beneath the apertures, and a deflecting rod movablebetween the suction engaged sheet and, said apertures parallel to theface of said nozzle member for deflecting the sheets from the nozzle.

1 5. A separating device for sheet feeding machines comprising a nozzlemember having a series of apertures therein for sucking sheets from astack arranged beneath the apertures, and a deflecting rod movable abovethe stack parallel to the face of said member and between the suc tionengaged sheet and said member and having a profile section which clingsknife-like to the nozzle member.

6. A separating device for sheet feeding machines comprising a nozzlemember having a plurality of series of suction apertures suitably spacedapart, and a deflecting member movable between the suction engaged sheetand said member and parallel to the face thereof for successivelycooperating with different series of apertures. l

7. A separating device for sheet feeding machines comprising avertically movable nozzle member having a series of apertures thereinfor sucking sheets from a stack arranged beneath the apertures,adeflecting rod movable beneath 'said apertures for deflecting thesheets from the nozzle, the'n ovementof said nozzle being interruptedduring the passage of the deflecting rod beneath the apertures.

8. In separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination of meansfor causing sheet material to be withdrawn from a pile, and meanslocated exteriorly of said aforesaid means and movable between thelatter and a sheet being in contact therewith for separating the secondsheet from the first sheet if a second she adheres-to the first sheet.

9. A separating device for sheet feeding ma: chines comprising a suctionnozzle mounted adjacent a stack of sheets for sucking the sheets fromthe stack, and a member located exteriorly of said nozzle and movablebetween said nozzle and a sheet directly engaged thereby to deflect.

the sheet from the nozzle to release excess sheets thereunder.

'10. The method of separating the top sheet from a stack of sheetsconsisting in withdrawing the top sheet from the stack, then partiallystripping the withdrawn sheet from the separating means by buckling itfor separating a second sheet from said withdrawn sheet if the secondsheet adheres to the latter sheet.

11. .The method of separating thetop sheet from a stack of sheetsconsisting in withdrawing the top sheet from the stack, then deflectingthe withdrawn sheet from the separating means by bucklingdt forseparating a second sheetfrom said withdrawn sheetif the second sheetadheres to the latter sheet. i i

12. The method of separating the top sheet from a stack of sheets forthe purpose of ad-.

vancing sheets to a sheet handling machine, consisting in engaging thetop sheet of a stack by a pneumatic member, raising said pneumaticmember together with a sheet above the level of said stack, moving amember parallel to the face of said pneumatic member and between thelatter suction member between the latter and the sheet engaged therebyand across the suction aperture or apertures thereof, to thereby deflectsaid sheet from said suction member for the purpose of releasing anyexcess sheets adhering to said top sheet. A a I 14'. The method ofseparating by suction the top sheet from a stack of sheets consisting inwithdrawing the top sheet from a stack by, .suction, temporarilyslightly lifting said sheet from suction influence, and deflecting saidslieet from the, exterior of the suction medium for the purpose ofreleasing any excess sheets adhering to said top sheet. r v

15. In a separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination ofrelatively movable means comprising, a suction member having an airopening for withdrawing sheet material from a pile, a sheet deflectingmember located exteriorly of said suction member and adapted topartially seal said opening in said suction member and deflect a sheetengaged directly and held' by said suction member until the end of therelative movement of said means from thelatter for the purpose ofremoving amember parallel to the face of said F leasing any excesssheets adhering to said sheet.

16. In a separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination orrelatively movable means comprising, a suction member having an airopening for withdrawing sheet material from a pile, a sheet deflectingrod located, exteriorly of said suction member and having a diameterless than the dimension of the air opening in said suction member topartially seal said air opening and deflect a sheet engaged directly andheld by said suction member until the end of the relative movement orsaid means from saidsuction memher for the purpose of releasing anyexcess sheets adhering to said sheet.

1'7.*In' separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination ofmeans withdrawing sheet material from the pile, and means locatedexteriorly f said beforesaid means and arranged to move .between thelatter and a sheet being in contact therewith up to a point adjacent tothe sheet engaging part of said withdrawing means I 19. .In' separatingmechanism for sheet material, the combination of means withdrawing sheetmaterial from the pile, and means located exteriorly of said aforesaidmeans and arranged to move between the latter and a sheet being incontact therewith up to a point beyond the sheet engaging part of saidwithdrawing means for the purpose or deflecting such sheet Irom saidwithdrawing memberandreleasing therebyanyexcesssheetsadherlngtosaidsheet.

20. In a separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination ofrelatively movable means comprising. a sheet separating member arrangedto engage and withdraw sheet material from a pile of sheets, and adeflecting member located exteriorly of said separating member andadapted to deflect the sheet, the relative movement or said membersbeing terminated when said deflecting member and the sheet engaging partof said separating member are adjacent each other.

' '21. In a separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination ofrelatively movable means comprising, a sheet separating member arrangedto engage and withdraw sheet material from a pile of sheets, and adeflecting member located exteriorly' of said separating member andadapted to deflect the sheet, the relative movement of said membersbeing terminated when said defleeting member and the sheet engaging partof said separating member have reached a position opposite, each other.

22. In a separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination ofrelatively movable means comprising, a sheet separating member arranged.to engage and withdraw sheet material from a pile of sheets, and adeflecting member located exterioriy of said separating member andadapted to deflect the sheet held by said separating member until aftersaid deflecting member and the sheet engaging part of said separatingmember have passed each other.

23. In separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination of amember for withdrawing sheet material from a pile of sheets and meanslocated exteriorly of said aforesaid member and movable between thelatter and a sheet being in contact therewith i'or. deflecting saidsheet from said withdrawing member, and means for interrupting themovement of said withdrawing member during movement of located means.

'- ROBERT REINAR'IZ.

said exteriorly

